Hollow back shovel



Aug. 9, 193s.,

G. c. WHARTON 2,126,692

HOLLOW BACK SHOVEL Filed June 1'7, 1957 if@ e.

` Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE HOLLOW BACK SHOVELApplication June 17, 1937, Serial No. 148,721

Z Claims.

This invention relates to shovels of the hollow back type and the objectis to improve the construction of such shovels, particularly withrespect to the manner of connecting the handle and blade with resultantadvantages both to the user and the manufacturer, as will more fullyappear from the following description of the illustrative embodiment ofthe invention shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing,wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the lower portion of the shovel; and

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section partly broken away.

Referring to the drawing, I have there shown a shovel blade 4 having aforwardly expressed reinforcing frog 6 at its rear edge, the wall ofwhich merges into the central extension 8 from the rear of the blade,which extension is curled over into tubular form to form a socket forthe reception of the customary wooden handle I0. This is the well knownhollow back construction. It has hitherto been customary to secure thehandle by means lof transverse rivets passing through the socket 8. Afinishing operation to smooth up the heads of the rivets is ordinarilyrequired and even when so finished they remain as interruptions to thesmoothness of the socket.

In accordance with my invention I provide means for attaching the handleI0 such as will permit al1 finishing operations'on the blade and on thehandle respectively to be completed before they are assembled, themethod of attachment being so effected that this finish is not harmedand no subsequent smoothing operation is required. The construction alsoprovides in the finished shovel a handle-receiving socket externallysmooth and free from such asperities as` are presented by the rivetheads of the ordinary construction.

In accordance With my invention I weld together at w (Fig. 1) theopposed edges of the tubular socket 8 to form a circumferentiallycontinuous tube. The handle l0 at the proper point in its length has across section adapted closely to t this tubular portion and may bedriven snugly thereinto with its end portion extending into and receivedby the frog 6 as shown. To retain the handle in position a rivet I2 maybe inserted vertically through the wall of the frog and the end of thehandle forming a single retaining means preventing longitudinalwithdrawal of the handle while the firm `seat of the handle in theseamless tube provides a strong connection between the handle and theblade under the prying strains encountered in the ordinariT use of ashovel. As is seen from Fig. 2, the lower or rear end of the rivet I2 isreceived within the frog above the back surface of the shovel and istherefore protected from wear.

I prefer to reinforce the end of the handle where the rivet l2 passestherethrough and conveniently a metal sleeve' I4 may be fitted to theend of the handle, through which sleeve the rivet I2 passes and on whichthe end thereof is upset.

It will be seen that the blade and its integral socket may be polishedor otherwise finished as a relatively small, wieldy unit before it isunited to the handle; that the handle likewise may be subjected toiinishing operations as a unit, and that the assembly of the two is notsuch as to mar the finish thus given or to require any supplementalfinishing operations. In the completed article the exterior wall of thesocket 8 where the hand comes in contact with it in use of the shovel isentirely smooth.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A shovel of the hollow back type which presents to the grasping handa handle-supporting socket smooth and free of asperities, comprising ablade having a forwardly expressed frog at the rear, a rearwardextension in line with the frog distally formed as a circumferentiallycontinuous tube, a non-metallic handle tightly fitted into the tube andextending into the frog, and a substantially single securing means forretaining the handle comprising a securing device attaching the handleend to the wall of the frog.

2. A shovel of the hollow back type which presents to the grasping handa handle-supporting socket smooth and free of asperities, comprising ablade having a forwardly expressed frog at the rear, a rearwardextension in line with the frog distally formed as a circumferentiallycontinuous tube, a non-metallic handle tightly fitted into the tube vandextending into the frog, a sleeve tting over the end of the handle, anda substantially single securing means for retaining the handlecomprising a securing device passing through said sleeve and the handleend within the same and the overlying wall of the frog.

GEORGE C. WHARTON.

